Imaging and Identification of Waterborne Parasites Using a Chip-Scale Microscope

Abstract

We demonstrate a compact portable imaging system for the detection of waterborne parasites in resource-limited settings. The previously demonstrated sub-pixel sweeping microscopy (SPSM) technique is a lens-less imaging scheme that can achieve high-resolution (<1 µm) bright-field imaging over a large field-of-view (5.7 mm×4.3 mm). A chip-scale microscope system, based on the SPSM technique, can be used for automated and high-throughput imaging of protozoan parasite cysts for the effective diagnosis of waterborne enteric parasite infection. We successfully imaged and identified three major types of enteric parasite cysts, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and Entamoeba, which can be found in fecal samples from infected patients. We believe that this compact imaging system can serve well as a diagnostic device in challenging environments, such as rural settings or emergency outbreaks.

Sensing parasites: Proteomic and advanced bio-detection alternatives

“…There is a need for rapid and simple screening of water sources to protect human health from water-related diseases. Currently, information about compact imaging systems incorporating a chip-scale microscope brings light to the diagnosis of major enteric parasites to save many lives [168]. Also, devices can track infectivity as early as 12 h post-infection, faster than other state of the art techniques [169].…”

Development of inexpensive blood imaging systems: where are we now?

“…The LUCAS system described in Section 2.2 is one example of this technology [11]. Another more recent shadow-imaging technology is called ePetri [67,68]. In this system, the sample is prepared directly on a chip.…”

On-chip cell analysis platform: Implementation of contact fluorescence microscopy in microfluidic chips

“…On-chip imaging techniques are highly attractive, particularly in the application fields of automated systems, for high-throughput biological and medical screening due to their advantages compared with conventional tabletop-type microscopes, including (i) ease of scale-up of field of view with large numbers of pixels and smaller pixel sizes, (ii) compact hardware geometry, cost effectiveness and mass producibility, (iii) and simple usability without careful selection and focusing of the lenses. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Automated system using microfluidic technology has also demonstrated great potential for biological and medical analysis, 9,10 drug screening, 11,12 and cell processing. 13,14 Thus, using on-chip fluorescence imaging techniques and a microfluidic chip platform provides a fully automated system from sample handling to detect of cellular activity.…”